Inside Jozi WAHM's Kitchen- The Birth of the Gingerbread Pie

I was making chicken pie for supper and Noodle was playing with the leftover pastry dough. She was playing with my cookie cutters and cut out a couple of gingerbread man shapes.

And so the idea of the gingerbread pie was born.

This is how we made it:

-Cut out two gingerbread man shapes out of the pastry;

-Add the filling. We used apricot jam for one and Nutella for the other.

-Top with the second piece of pastry and press down on the edges so that the filling does not leak.

-Sprinkle generously with sugar, cinnamon powder and ginger powder. (Alternatively, the spices could be added when mixing your pastry batter.)

- We added two raisins for eyes.

-Bake at 180 degrees celsius for 25 minutes (this may differ depending on your oven).

-Serve with a side scoop of cream or ice-cream.

Unfortunately I did not get a picture of the end product as they were scoffed up before they even cooled down, but I think piping like a traditional gingerbread man would take this treat to another level.

Inside Jozi WAHM's Kitchen- Strawberry Cheesecake

I am a sucker for cheesecake and having made my favourite, super rich, decadent and very fattening one this weekend, I have decided to share the recipe. Did I mention that it is easy to make and does not even need baking? Go on, try it... you know you want to!

NO BAKE STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE

BASE: 

• 125g melted butter
•  1 box marie biscuits

Crush the biscuits (I am lazy so I whizz in the blender) and mix with the butter.
 

Press into a greased springform tin lined with wax paper. I cut the wax paper into a circle slightly larger than the pan and let the wax paper overlap slightly out of the bottom of the pan for easy removal.

FILLING:

Mix:

• 1 tub smooth cream cheese, 
• 1 tin condensed milk, 
• 1 cup fresh cream, 
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 
• a dash of vanilla essence. Beat until almost stiff.

Boil 100ml boiling water with 2 tbsp gelatine. (Alternatively you could use 3tbsp agar agar, but I find that gelatine gives more consistent results. I use the halaal variety available from the spice shops). Stir until dissolved and pour into cream cheese mixture and mix well. Pour over the biscuit base.

TOPPING:

Top with strawberries (or any other fruit). On Sunday I did not have fresh strawberries so I used granadilla pulp and a bit of tinned strawberry. Kiwi fruit, tinned peaches or any other berries also work well.

Glaze the fruit with a layer of jelly (following the instructions on the box).

Let the cheesecake set in the fridge for a few hours, preferably overnight. 

Tip: To get the cheesecake out of the tin without cracks, loosen the edges with a hot knife. Dip the knife in hot water as you go along for a smooth edge. Then unclip the springform pan and slide the bottom off. Alternatively, you could make mini cheesecakes in greased foil cups.

ENJOY!!!

An Epic Family Long Weekend in Jozi

This long weekend, Jozi WAHM and family decided to have a family fun weekend and explore what was on offer in Jozi. We decided to holiday in our own city and cram as much fun into the long-weekend as possible with a one-year old and four-year old in tow. Here are the highlights:

Friday:

The highlight for me was getting to sleep in late(ish), which never happens since Noodle and Squish are both early birds. Noodle slept over at granny's house and Squish had a bit of a rough night so he slept in the morning.

In the afternoon, after Friday prayers, a family bowling trip at the Zone, Rosebank was on the cards. I am not very good at bowling and have not been bowling in about seven years, but it was fun nevertheless (although I did spend much of the time running after Squish, who was determined to pick up bowling balls that are literally heavier than he is). Noodle loved the experience. They are able to modify the lanes to be quite kiddy friendly. Besides the child bumpers on the sides of the lanes, they have a contraption with an incline so that little ones with weak little arms can roll the balls with enough momentum to actually knock something. I appreciated the fact that the establishment did not force us to wear stinky bowling shoes. 

We also had a late lunch at Burger King. I was salivating at the Oreo pop-up shop directly across it but the idea of those long queues with two little ones was off putting.

The Zone, Rosebank

Saturday:

We decided we would spend a couple of hours at the Rand Show, another event we had not attended in several years. To our surprise, there was so much to keep us busy that we ended up spending the entire day.

We did a bit of shopping and were surprised to find quite a bit of free entertainment for the kids in the shopping halls- the Pirates Paradise (a big play area which had a variety of giant jumping castles and slides), putt putt, gingerbread making, lego's and even free popcorn and candyfloss. There were booths for kids to watch their favourite cartoons but I was relieved that this was not even requested by my kids. 

There were also fun learning experiences. The science hall had plenty of interesting things for kids to try and Noodle enjoyed the Sci-bono displays. Another hall had little roads for kids to learn road safety and also displays of police cars, ambulances etc, which Noodle found fascinating.

Top: An electric experiment | Bottom: Noodle successfully builds the tangram puzzle

The favourite for Squish was the animal farm and he enjoyed interacting with the animals and even a dog show. No surprise, the amusement park rides were also a big hit for both kids. 

By far the biggest highlight of the day was that Noodle and I went on a helicopter ride, which is something Noodle always said she would love to do one day (and something I had never tried before either). We promised her that we would take her if she walked through all the halls and she kept her end of the deal. I was worried that she might be frightened but she LOVED every second of it. The ride was very short but we had fantastic views over the south of Johannesburg. Okay, some of it is just mine dumps but the view of the FNB Stadium with the Johannesburg city centre as its backdrop was spectacular. 

Helicopter ride over Jozi at the Rand Show

Sunday:

On Sunday, A's family came over for lunch. Luckily, my sister-in-law, who is a great cook, offered to make the main course of chicken biryani, served with the traditional accompaniments of dahi  (a spicy sour milk sauce), papar (a spicy crisp) and achaar (spicy pickles). I did salads and desserts (cheesecake and chocolate mousse). I will post the recipe of my strawberry cheesecake, which always ends up being gobbled separately.

We do not celebrate Easter, being Muslim, but I must confess that we love scoffing down the easter eggs (any excuse for chocolate is good in my books).

In the evening we had family movie night at home (a tradition we do at least monthly) with a family friendly movie, lights dimmed and popcorn. It is rare that we find a movie that the kids like and that we can tolerate, but the evening's choice of Disney's 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day' fit the bill.

Monday:

The highlight of the day was a trip to the Sultan Bahu Fete, an annual event which is held every Easter weekend in Mayfair, Central Johannesburg as a fundraiser for Sultan Bahu's various social outreach projects (which include a children's home, a dialysis centre, feeding schemes, drug rehabilitation etc.)

It is pretty much like a smaller, Indian version of the Rand show (sans the hefty entrance fee), with lots and lots of bargain shopping and an amusement park (which is almost as big as the Rand Show one). Despite having large grounds, the turnout was massive this year, so it did get extremely crowded, which made it difficult to see all that was on offer at the flea market. After some shopping, Noodle went on even more amusement park rides (like she did not get her fill on Saturday). After some snacks, it was time to call it a day.

Working From Home Series- Getting Started with Your Startup

We previously blogged on the idea of working from home and what you should consider before making the decision to do so (see previous post here). 

So now you have had that big epiphany as to what business you will start and have made the big decision to work from home. You have a business plan in place and have done your market research (if not, go one step back- a business plan is crucial!). You have set aside some space at home for your home office and are ready to get started.

What next? Well, you will have to sort out some of the more tedious details. First get lots and lots of coffee (and make sure you include a good coffee machine in your office equipment list) and then proceed to the steps below.

(Note: the below information is of a general nature and should not be construed as legal or financial advice. Please consult a professional where required). 

• Branding is a whole topic on its own, but to begin with, you will have to create a brand for your business by creating a name for your business, a logo, a website, get business cards, a business letterhead etc. 
• Consider how you will keep your business financial records and whether you can do this yourself or if you need the services of a part-time bookkeeper going forward.
• You will need to set up a business bank account. It is worth your while to shop around and compare pricing and also the services the various banks offer to start up businesses. Your bank may turn out to be an invaluable business partner in the initial set up phases as it is in their best interest for your business to thrive. If you require funding, while banks are not your only option, it is the most common choice.
• Regardless of your business type, you will need to check what the requirements are in terms of income taxes, VAT etc. and do the necessary registrations in this regard via the Receiver of Revenue. (You will do this after your company registration if you are going to be trading as a company).
• Do some research as to the compliance requirements for your business and how you will be affected by legislation like the Companies Act or the Consumer Protection Act. Depending on the industry, certain licenses may be needed. Seek legal advice if necessary.
• If you are employing staff, you will also have to register for UIF (unemployment insurance fund), PAYE (pay as you earn), COID (compensation for injuries and diseases).  These are done via the Department of Labour.
• Consider whether you need business insurance, including liability insurance and key person insurance.
• You will also need to consider whether your business will require BEE certification. While small start ups are typically exempted from having to apply for a BEE certificate, it may give you a competitive advantage to do so.
• Finally, how will you trade? You might choose to be a sole proprietor, close corporation, private company, partnership, trust etc. Each of these options have important consequences and it is important to know what the pro's and cons of each option are (and also ensure that you understand the tax consequences of each). Once you have decided on the type of entity, you will need to proceed with the necessary name reservations and registrations (if any). We will go into some detail regarding the options as to the type of business entity below.

TYPES OF BUSINESSES

1. Sole Proprietorships

This is the simplest form of business and has no formal requirements to start up. Basically, you are the business and there is no separate legal structure, making it a very easy and simple option. You will have to pay taxes on your income but this will not be separate from your personal taxes, some of which you can set off with business expenses.

The downside is that your personal assets are not separated from your business at all and if the business fails, your personal assets are at risk. If you are married in community of property, your spouse's assets are also at stake. 

The new Companies Act requires trading as names to be registered with CIPC if you trade in a name other than your own.

2. Close Corporations (CC's)

 
This form of business has been discontinued and new CC’s may not be registered. You may buy and transfer membership of an existing CC but there is no real benefit in doing so.

3. Partnerships

A partnership may be set up between two to twenty individuals going into business together. Like a sole proprietorship, there are no real formalities, although a written partnership agreement is not a legal requirement, it is recommended that you do have one in place, preferably professionally drafted.

The downside is that, like a sole proprietorship, the assets and liabilities of each partner are linked to the business and creditors may attack personal possessions if the business fails. You are also liable for all of the partnership debts, even if incurred by another partner. The partnership also ceases to exist if one partner dies, in which case a new partnership has to be constituted.

4. Private Companies ((Pty) Ltd)

 
The new Companies Act aims to make it simpler to set up a private company. The advantage of having a company is that the company is a separate legal entity, so your assets are separate from those of the business and in most cases, only the capital that you have invested is at risk. Trading by way of a company can create a more professional image and instil confidence in potential clients. If you trade by way of a company, there will be a lot more formalities required, board meetings, resolutions etc. However, this structural formality may be a blessing in disguise as it will force you to operate in a disciplined manner.

The company will be owned by one or more shareholders and managed by one or more directors who will run the company. For a home business, it is likely that you will be the sole director and sole shareholder.

So how do you start a company? The company has to be registered with CIPC (you can do this yourself and the forms are available from their website but it is time consuming, especially if you are new to the process). It is recommended that you consult with an attorney or chartered accountant who can advise you on the best structures for your company and handle all the paperwork needed in order to register. You will need to submit annual returns and companies of a certain size will need to be audited.

Note: there are various other types of companies, including public companies, personal liability companies (those ending with "Inc") and non profit companies (those ending with NPC") but we have looked primarily at private companies as these are the most likely fit for businesses run from home.

5. Business Trusts

A business may also be set up as a trust, which is formed by way of a trust deed registered with the Master of the High Court. This vehicle is often used for family businesses as it allows for some form of business continuity from generation to generation. There are also slightly fewer formalities than with companies.

On the flip side, trusts are taxed at a high forty percent in South Africa. In addition, you need to know what you are doing as a poorly drafted trust deed can severely restrict your ability to conduct business. 

The Jozi WAHM's Ultimate Guide to Budget Shopping in Jozi

In Jozi, we are fortunate to have plenty of options when it comes to shopping. However, this can also cause a drain on ones budget if you are not shopping savvy. From physical retailers, online shopping and even shopping on gumtree.co.za, here is how to get the most bang for your buck in the city of gold.

Grocery Shopping

We have a few tips for getting the most out of your grocery budget:

First of all, have a budget and stick to it religiously. There is one exception to the rule- when you find a sale that is too good to miss and it is something you will use and would have bought anyway, just in smaller quantities later on. The items I typically shop around for and then stockpile when cheap are larger ticket non-perishables such as nappies and washing powder which are significantly cheaper on sale.

However, there are some things to avoid when it comes to buying on sale. Be wary of falling into the trap of buying things that you otherwise would not have just because they are cheap (even if those marked down chocolates are screaming your name). Also, be cautious of buying stuff that you will not use up before they expire, as you will not be saving anything if half is thrown away. Lastly, while it is sometimes worth your while to shop around when some things are cheaper at one store than another, work out the value of your petrol (and time) and do the maths as to whether you are actually saving. 

When you head to the grocery store, make sure you do not do so on an empty stomach as this is sure to result in impulse purchases.

Look out for coupon discounts. While we do not have those crazy discounts you see on those American couponing reality shows (unless there is something I do not know- in which case please tell me!), you can save some money with coupons. You can download the Shoprite and Checkers apps for digital coupons, or look on the Unilever website. Pick 'n Pay now sends personalised coupons (I was freaked out the first time I received one because it was so tailor-made to me that it felt like they were stalking me a bit, but at least they send vouchers you will actually use). Again, when using these coupons, avoid falling into the trap of buying things you do not need and would not otherwise have bought.

Clothing shopping

With children's clothing, it is well worth waiting for end of season sales and buying neutral staples which will not go out of fashion in a bigger size for the following season. Branded items are often significantly cheaper at factory shops. It is also worthwhile checking what is available online.

Online shopping

Online stores are often able to offer better prices due to not having to have physical store premises. You also save on petrol and time going to a physical store (not to mention the frustration of having an emergency nappy change or hungry child just as you get to the front of a long queue).

Look out for voucher codes- stores like Kalahari, Takealot, Zando, Spree and BabyGroup often have substantial discount voucher codes- just Google the voucher codes for the relevant store online. Look out for periods when there are no delivery fee, or wait till you need enough from the relevant store to qualify for a waiver of the delivery fee.

Buying and selling second hand

Things that will only be used for a short period of time (for example baby goodies) are often far cheaper if you buy them secondhand, using an established site such as Gumtree (where you can literally find everything under the sun). For armchair shoppers, this is ultra convenient since you can compare prices for new and used items and get a good feeling for what the best prices out there are and whether new or used is the way to go.

It is also worth your while to sell larger items that you no longer use on sites such as Gumtree. You will de-clutter while cashing in (to get money to buy more stuff on Gumtree of course) and someone else will get to use items that would otherwise have collected dust. 

They even have a very user friendly Android app which allows you to find advertisements for goods (or service providers) located in your vicinity from your smartphone. 

This is how easy it is to place an ad on Gumtree via the app

Gumtree sometimes gets an unfair reputation for scams, but remember it is a convenient platform for you to buy and sell. They just provide the market place to enable transactions, putting you in touch with other buyers and sellers and you can use this as you see fit.  You should ensure that this platform is used responsibly (exercise caution in providing personal details such as bank account details to others, if selling do not send the item before receiving payment and if purchasing something in person, meet in a public place and take someone with you). Provided these precautions are taken, you are promised a happy shopping experience and an opportunity to save on items which otherwise would have costed significantly more.

Are you ready to work from home? The Jozi WAHM's Guide to Getting Started

In this day and age, with all kinds of technology making it easy to stay connected without physically being at the office, the decision to work from home may be an alluring one for many. Being able to spend time with family, spending less time in traffic, determining your own working hours and saving on rental and petrol costs may be motivating factors for such a decision. With proper planning, the decision to stay at home may be a rewarding one. However, before deciding to do so, there are many aspects that need to be considered.

Making the decision to work from home was one of the biggest decisions of my adult life and took many months of deliberation and planning. Even so there are some things that took me off guard. 

If you are considering working from home, here are some things that require some serious thought while compiling your business plan. Note: This is just a broad checklist and specific aspects of the issues below will be covered in future posts.

• Firstly, do you have the right personality type for this? Extreme extroverts might miss the daily interaction with others at the office and may feel isolated if there is not enough interaction with others. Conversely, extreme introverts might find it difficult to engage in the conversations needed to get the ball rolling and interact with clients. You will also need to seriously assess whether you are self-motivated enough to actually get down to working when there is nobody policing whether or not you actually do so.

• Then, obviously, you need to consider what type of business it is which you wish to pursue. Your skill set, personality type, education and the market demand in your area will all help in determining this. Adequate market research will be required to determine whether your business idea is a viable one and this is often one of the primary determinants of whether a business can thrive. You will need to determine who your target market are, whether they will buy into your product.You also need to figure out if the service you are offering is one that people will be willing to pay for, how much they are willing to pay and whether this will be lucrative for you.

• Be wary of business areas which have already reached saturation point. At the same time, if you are considering a business type that not many others are doing, this could either mean that your business is novel and unique or that it is a bad idea and that others know better- you need to figure out which!

• You will need to calculate what the start up costs for your business will be and consider how these will be funded. Will you need to apply for any credit facilities and how will these be repaid? Bear in mind that it is likely that you will not see a profit for at least the first year of operation, so you need to consider how your expenses will be covered during this period.

• The type of business enterprise needs consideration. While a sole proprietorship may be the simplest way to operate, the possibility of a company, trust or other enterprise may be considered in order to limit personal liability. However, the consequences and responsibility that comes along with these vehicles need to be understood and it would be prudent to consult with an attorney to consider the pro's and cons of each potential option. In addition, your attorney can help you to establish whether any registrations or licenses are required and any regulatory and compliance aspects your business will have to adhere to going forward. 

• You will need to consider your property- where at home you will work from and whether the way your home is set up will practically allow for you to work from home. Certain business types may require that your property is zoned for business and you will need to check whether this is the case. If you are selling goods rather than offering services, you need to consider whether you will have to keep physical stock and whether you have the space for this. Regardless of the business type, a dedicated work space is ideal, preferably one which is in some way separated from the rest of the home. 

• You obviously need to ensure that you have all the relevant tools of trade, which will be determined by the business type. Most businesses will require fast and reliable internet connectivity and you will have to research what the best option for this is in your area. 

• If you have the type of business that will involve have clients in and out of your home, you need to consider whether your family's privacy will be infringed and even more importantly, security. Do you have parking space for potential clients and will this be disruptive to your neighbours?

• If you are planning to work from home with children around, a whole extra level of complexity will be added to your business planning. Will you work with your children present or will you have assistance? Even with a nanny to help with my one year old and with my four year old at pre-school in the mornings, this aspect is far tougher than I had anticipated. Given that spending time with my family was my primary motivator for leaving my office job, I find it difficult to banish myself into isolation and usually end up allowing the constant disruptions from my children. As a work at home mother, you will need to figure out for yourself how to balance this aspect (for a few tips on this aspect, please see my previous blog post on the topic here). You also need to set boundaries against disruptions from the beginning so that extended family and friends are aware that just because you are not physically at the office, you are working. 

If you have all the answers to the above questions, then working from home may well be the way forward for you.

Just stuff we did at home last week

There were a few rainy days this past week, so the kids enjoyed several indoor activities at home:

• We did a hand print painting this week using glitter finger paint to make a butterfly (I just added glitter to some regular finger paint). The top set of hands belong to Squish and the bottom set to Noodle. 

Butterfly hand prints

• Noodle painted a bird with the leftover paint and added a foam beak and googly eyes.

 

Glitter bird

• We baked a tasty chocolate cake. Nothing fancy, a box mix topped in caramel and sprinkles. Noodle did most of the decorating.

• We blew bubbles. 

Recipe for home made bubbles:

1/3 cup dishwashing liquid
1 1/4 cups water
2 teaspoons sugar

• We played I spy. For Noodle, I give her the sound the word begins with rather than the letter since she cannot really spell yet.

• We played (lots of) hide and seek. Squish is surprisingly good at this for a fourteen month old!

• We turned our lounge into a recording studio and had a sing-along, using the Yokee app, where the lyrics to practically any song are available.

Noodle says... Part 2

Here are the latest gems from my four year old Noodle. (For part 1 of 'Noodle says', please click here.)

 

 

You know that you are having a conversation with Noodle when the sentence starts with "I have a good idea". She has several good ideas each day. Here are some for this week:

 

She did not believe me when I told her that they are waterproof and wanted to know why they all stop working every time it rains. In Jozi,I guess this is a fair observation. 

 

Wishful thinking.

 
Yes, in Noodle land, Eskom and Google are both people. I found it interesting that Eskom is a 'he' and Google is a 'she'.